Improvement in bosom-pads



my @Jy/2.722%

W/TNESSES.

INVENTDH.

H. W. LIBBEY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

Letters Patent No. 75,031, dated March 3, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT iN'BosoM-Pees.

fai-Igedgemlt einen in in tiges Enters atent mit marking ont et ille time.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY GONOERN.:

Be it known that I, H. W'. LIBBEY, of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga, and Stute ofvOhio, have invented certuin new and useful Improvements in Breast-Forms for ladies; and I do hereby declare' that the following is a, full and complete description ofthe coustructionnnd operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making n part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a. perspective View,

`Figure is a vertical section, Y

Figure 3 is an enlarged view ofthe nipple and valve for intiuting the form.

Figure 4 shows the manner of securing the outer membranes to the central diaphragm.

A, fig. 2, represents the frame vor diaphragm, und it consists of u. concave disk, made of thin vulcanized rubber, wood, papier moche, thin metal, or other suitable materie-l. The border or margin is provided with a. circular ,groove or depression, ca, figs. 2 and 4. B represent-s a. lining membrane, made of silk fabric, which, when 'the form is worn, is in contact with the integument ot` the breast. At the centre of this membrane is n. circular opening, b, forfthe admission of the nipple. C represents :in Iair-tight elastic covering, thatis placed upon the outside or convex side of the diaphragm A, and is joined to the outer edge of the disk by first apply ing an elastic varnish or cement that will make it air-tight. A small cord is then wound tightly around in the grooves, as seen at a', fig. 4. Around under the cord, with the elastic covering, is bound n piece of tape, the edges of which are allowed to project from the rim of the frame. To this tape is secured the membrane or lining B, so that on its becoming worn or soiled, it can he5 easily replaced by a. new one. D represents n. mouth-piece, und is provided with a. screw-stem, E, for the purpose of iniluting the form. To the lower end of this stem is attached e valve, E', the face of which is covered or packed with some elastic material. a b is therulve-sent, and is secured to the elastic covering by :t bnttonLZa", into which the stem is screwed, and is also packed with somo elastic material, :isis the valve. The nipple and stem ure perforated to the point z, und thence at right :ingles into the chamber between the valve and scot.

In order io inflate the form, the valve is opened, ns shown in iig. 3. The nipple is then applied to the mouth, und the necessary amount of air then forced in, andretnined by closing the vulve, by means of the screw-stem und button referred to, which brings the-face of the valve up inte its seat, thereby closing over the side perforations in the stem, und this makes the whole secure and oir-tight.

F E represent steel or other metallic springs, which u re attached to the outer margin of the disks, the free ends passing to the posterior portion of the chest, und holding the disks in place. G represents un elastic ligament, which holds the two forms together, passing from one to the other in front of the sternum. In using this breast-form, the nipple D is turned so as to open the valve, the forni is then inflated by :in effort of the lungs, und the vulve closed. The form is then placed over the ummnmry gland, und the springs properly adjust-ed. The inflation con be more or less, as may he desired, to suit nuy particulur case or fancy.

The advantages of this breast-form over others is us follows: Ladies in whom the glands are not well developed, use, for the purpose of' showing such development, pudding of ifa-.rions kinds, which presses upon the glands, und by the in'clcuse of heat and constant pressure, ultimately produces nu irreparable injury, causing the nipple to retract, and giving rise to tumors. `With my breast-form neither of these erils can result. '.lhe nipple is not retracted, the natural growth of the breast is not retarded, und nbnndnnt opportunity is afforded for insensible perspiration by o. free admission of air underthc form. Another a-'lruntngn of no small magnitude is, the expansion of the lungs of the wearer by the uct of inflation.

What I claim as my improvement, und desire to secure by Letters Tute-nt, is-

1. The diaphragm A, membrane B, and elastic covering C, combined und arranged substantially :is specified.

2. The nipple D and vulve E, combined and arranged subst-fintially as und for the purpose specified.

H. W. ,LIBBEYa Witnesses:

W. H. BURMDGE, J. HOLMES. 

